Journalist attacked in Pilibhit, 4 booked

A journalist was allegedly attacked by a group of people here with four persons having been booked over the incident, police said

Pilibhit: A journalist was allegedly attacked by a group of people here with four persons having been booked over the incident, police said.

The incident comes on the heels of the case of murder of a journalist in Shahjahanpur in which an Uttar Pradesh minister is a key accused.

According to Pilibhit SP JK Shahi, Haider, a reporter for the electronic media, has complained that he was attackedyesterday by one Anand and his associates as he had done stories which had not gone down well with the accused.

"Yesterday, I got a call regarding a robbery case. But when I reached the spot, Anand and some 3-4 others surrounded me and started beating me up. "They hit me with the butt of a revolver and also dragged me for 100m by a car," alleged Haider, who claimed he was left unconscious in the attack which took place in the Puranpur area here. He said a passerby later came to his aid and brought him to Paharpur police station.

The SP said that the journalist has been sent for a medical examination and "prompt action will be taken to bringthe accused to justice". Earlier, in Shahjahanpur on June 1, journalist Jagendra Singh was allegedly set on fire during a police raid at his house with his family members claiming that police officials were responsible in the matter. Singh succumbed to his injuries on June 8.

An FIR has been registered against, among others, the UP Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, Ram Murti Verma, and Inspector (Chowk) Sri Prakash Rai in connection with the killing.

The journalist is said to have invited Verma's ire by posting reports against him on Facebook pertaining to allegedillegal mining activities and land grabbing.